Best tonewood combination for Lowden guitars?

[raggedymike]

My only guitar is a Lowden 032c spruce/rosewood. I fell in love with it immediately and still feel that way 15 years later.

[royd]

sorry I didn't see this when it went around... did you trade for the O32C?

I've been playing Lowdens since about '87 and find I always prefer cedar tops in O size. I've had two EIR and two mahogany. If I had to pick one Lowden, I'd choose EIR with a cedar top in an O. That said, I've played some sublime mahogany guitars.

George currently prefers African Blackwood with a redwood top. I've played a couple of that combo and they were amazing but also very pricey.

As for the Avalons and McIlroys mentioned, they are fine guitars and they would certainly not be bad choices, but they aren't exactly the same so it is a matter of preference.

[llew]

Don't overlook the O22 in cedar/mahogany. Great fingerstyle guitar but it doesn't shy away from a flat pick either.

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by Michael Watts

My favourite Lowden was this O50 in Braz and Alpine Spruce, great guitar!

Yup....that will do just fine!

[PinkLine]

My O32 (spruce/rosewood) is a whole lotta guitar. Full tone, great string separation, balanced and loud. Loves to be tuned down too. Had it nearly 20 years.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by wailin...

For all you Lowden players out there! I am finding it hard to play different wood combos in the Lowden O range so was hoping for some expert advice here. I play Martins and have a D-18 and HD-28V. I am hoping to sell the 28v to help purchase my dream guitar which is the Lowden O model but not sure of the wood combination. I play all types of music inc country, celtic, rock etc. Can someone specify the difference in tone in say a cedar/walnut or spruce/rosewood lowden and what is the quintessential Lowden guitar if there is one?

Gosh, A Lowden O model is a quintessential guitar all by itself and regardless of the woods used, particularly the more recent Downpatrick builds with the Dolphin bracing. Yes, different wood combinations will adjust a Lowden O's sonics and behavior one way or another, but not by much. Your first decision should be the top, one of the several spruces available or a cedar or redwood top? Back and sides woods will adjust it a bit more.

I play fingerstyle, flesh and nail, with a classical guitar technical background, so what I may prefer is likely different than what you may prefer, given your stated musical genres. I've played dozens of Lowdens over the years but have only owned two, both O23 models (Claro walnut/cedar). As much as I liked them, the O is a very large guitar, and I have ergonomic issues with guitars of that size. Also, large guitars tend to have a slower response to initial transients, which can be a good thing in certain settings, but can also be not so desirable.

You may wish to consider a Lowden F model.

[Phelonious Ponk]

I once owned a Lowden O in walnut and cedar. If what your looking for is that incredibly rich, sustainy thing that is so good for open tunings and modern finger style, that's a great place to land, but my bandmate has an O in rosewood/cedar, and it might be even better. Great guitars. Subjectively too much for me and what I play, but objectively perhaps the best guitars I've ever played. But the O is the Lowden pinnacle. Enjoy.

P

[wailin...]

Thanks folks for the comments. Royd, I traded the HD28v for the O32, it's a wonderful sounding instrument, just fills the room with a lovely rich and open sound. Complete opposite to the HD, which I loved and would have kept if possible! But I have the D18 for that Martin tone

Would have loved to try out a cedar topped rosewood/walnut model but none were available. Would the cedar/IR O25 model have an even warmer and bassier sound than the O32?

[royd]

Originally Posted by wailin...

Thanks folks for the comments. Royd, I traded the HD28v for the O32, it's a wonderful sounding instrument, just fills the room with a lovely rich and open sound. Complete opposite to the HD, which I loved and would have kept if possible! But I have the D18 for that Martin tone

Would have loved to try out a cedar topped rosewood/walnut model but none were available. Would the cedar/IR O25 model have an even warmer and bassier sound than the O32?

sorry Wailin, I haven't been around much lately. The difference between the spruce and cedar is more complex than just warmer and bassier - the attack is slightly different and the cedar is a bit more diffuse sounding I think. Maybe warmer, but there wouldn't be more bass in one vs. the other, just a different focus to those low notes. Playing them next to one another, you'd know they are siblings. Take the difference you hear from the Martin to the Lowden 32 and push it a step further and that would be the 25.

[MichaelD23]

There's an S-25 listing on Reverb that states the back and sides are cocobolo. Could someone with a better eye than mine confirm that?

https://reverb.com/item/32271220-low...fishman-pickup

Thanks!

[Malcolm Kindnes]

I played several Lowdens yesterday on a visit to Northern Ireland, the best sounding was definitely cocobolo and Sitka, and the one I liked least was bog oak and redwood, very dull sounding. They were both F models.

[BigOrangeBox]

I've played quite a few Lowdens and have to say the most resonate and perfectly built one was Richard Thompson model with Cedar and Zirocote. It is simply a monster.

[koko61]

Has any of you tried one with a Redwood top and koa back and sides?

[sevenpalms]

The correct answer is walnut/cedar! I’ve had at least 15 Lowdens over the past 20 years...The 23 series just sounds so warm and woody. IMHO Lowden does that combo better than anybody...

[Hiro]

Yes, I've a Lowden with a sinker redwood top and rosewood back and sides. It's an S-35, so it's on the small side but it does project. I tend to think the rosewood has more to do with its sound than the sinker redwood top, but my opinion is worth what you've paid for it. I admire the Lowden build but I do wish the neck was less chunky. Anyhow, I am a happy owner.